Over the past several days, I have actually sat and watched several movies that have come out on DVD--don't go out to the theater that much anymore for a movie. Just the way things are right now; we generally just wait until the flicks become available on DVD (and no, I don't do Netflix either, at least not yet).

First up, saw the latest installment in the adventures of Harry Potter--"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" --and I must say, these movies definitely get darker and darker as they go along, but my kids (who are HUGE fans) tell me this is the way it should be. I can see why they are popular (just like the books); for me, it was enjoyable but not thrilling. The effects were excellent, the kids have matured in their roles and are very likeable, plenty of magic and mayhem, but I guess not really being into the whole Harry Potter thing, I can't say I've was totally blown away by it. I have enjoyed all the movies, but probably liked the first two best. I feel the same about the books, read the first two and that was enough for me.

My wife and I had wanted to see "Julie and Julia" ever since it was released, so we finally rented it. We thoroughly enjoyed this one. The two stories--Julia Child learning to cook while living in 1950's Paris with her husband, and Julie Powell, in present day New York, cooking her way through Child's French cookbook while coping with her life's issues--were quite involving, sometimes humorous, and very foody. Meryl Streep did an amazing job portraying Child, Stanley Tucci was fun as her husband, and Amy Adams was cute and sympathetic. Almost too leisurely paced, it did tell the stories well and the characters were remarkably realized. Filming in New York and Paris definitely was a plus. The film did not disappoint us at all, except perhaps with being a little slow at times.

"Star Trek" was our third film recently viewed, and it was quite enjoyable. Great special effects, decent storyline, good action, and it was fun to see Kirk and Spock and company all as young adults and how they came to meet and work together. Chris Pine did very well as the young Kirk, and it was a blast that Leonard Nimoy was on hand to portray the older Spock, and was in fact a major part of the story. I did not even recognize Winona Ryder as Spock's mother, which was a surprise. A very appealing film that I would watch again. Great set up for further adventures that will not tamper with the original TV storylines. I was never a huge Trek fan, but did enjoy the original series and some of the films.

THE QUEEN'S MISTAKE by Diane Haeger, 2009.

The story of Catherine Howard and Henry VIII, related in a moderately entertaining and romantic way. While I don't necessarily agree with some of Haeger's character portrayals--including Catherine herself and Jane Rochford, to mention two--she does a credible job with Henry and Anne of Cleves, and her descriptive details of the Tudor period in general seem fine. This depiction is the Howard episode is more heavy on the romance and very sympathetic to Catherine. Catherine, raised in a rather permissive household, is chosen by her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, to recover the family's prestige by becoming the fifth of Henry's wives. For her part, Catherine is both disgusted and intrigued, and at the same time finds herself unwilling to give up her relationship with Thomas Culpeper. She must also be on constant guard to keep all references to her unsavory past at bay. While the author has done research, I don't agree with her strong assertion that Catherine was removed and executed because she was Catholic--that may have played into it, but most accounts state it was more because of her adultery and that she was not a virgin when Henry married her. I also had trouble believing that Cranmer was such a villain as portrayed here. The book is very readable and pleasant and would recommend it to anyone who didn't get enough of this episode from The Boleyn Inheritance (which I personally found a bit more true to life than this novel, although I have issues with Gregory's work, too), but I did have issues with it concerning its accuracy.

Just finished reading ABIGAIL ADAMS: A LIFE by Woody Holton, 2009.

This biography of Abigail Adams is quite interesting and well written and readable. The author sheds light on an aspect of her life not well known before now: her financial savvy--for one thing, she was really into buying bonds big time, even though John wanted more real estate. Abigail had an uncle, Cotton Tufts, who acted as her agent/trustee, signed for her and advised her, but at the same time, she had great instinct concerning financial investments. Holton also discusses her belief in education and women's rights (especially as concerned owning property), her feelings on slavery, etc. He does much to illuminate her personal relationships with her mother (whom she considered overprotective), her siblings (especially her sisters), and with John, as well as her interactions with such notables as Mercy Otis Warren, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and others. Her relationship with Phoebe Abdee, one of her father's former slaves, is recounted in some detail over a period of years. Is there lots of new information here? Probably not, except for the financial stuff, but Holton writes so well and has utilized Abigail's own voluminous correspondence, other letters and papers and materials in such a way that this fascinating woman you may think you know all about is revealed in a different way. A very thorough and worthwhile bio.

I just finished reading

A RELIABLE WIFE by Robert Goolrick, 2009.

Set in Wisconsin in 1907-08, a wasteland of snow and ice, this novel really was just so engrossing and it's hard for me to describe it. It begins with a 50+ year old wealthy man, Ralph Truitt, advertising for "a reliable wife"; Catherine Land answers the ad and arrives by train from Chicago. Both characters have dark secrets and hidden plans, slowly revealed, and they are both involved with a third character, Antonio. There's drama and heartbreak and rage and guilt and misery and love and sex (lots of sex) and motives that at first are not clear. Some good surprises, and the ending, while sort of expected, still is rather shocking. Overall, very interesting, well written, good suspense, description, and complex characters in their emotions and motives. Not a quick read, but very satisfying.

SONGS FOR THE MISSING by Stewart O'Nan, 2008.

Reviews for this book were good, so when I saw it the other day and decided I needed to read a contemporary story, I went with this. It's set in a small town in Ohio near Lake Erie. Kim Larsen, a teenage girl who, the summer before she is leaving for college, simply vanishes between the time she left her friends at the river and the time she's due for work. Disappears into thin air. The people closest to her do everything to find her: search parties are formed, TV appearances made, fund raisers held, and private investigations unearth secrets, and everyone struggles to keep hope alive. But as time passes and her disappearance becomes old news, the story then becomes a portrait of how those left behind cope with the unexplained loss of a child. Kim's parents and sister each call on hidden strengths to survive the tragedy and move forward, and her best friends and boyfriend follow different paths to come to their own conclusions about their own parts in the awful drama and how to live with it. A heartwrenching, suspenseful, and believably written book.

MATCHLESS: A CHRISTMAS STORY by Gregory Maguire, 2009.

I scooped this up and read it very quickly. It's a very short book, complete with illustrations by the author. Basically, it's the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale, "The Little Match Girl", retold as only Maguire could do it. His story concerns a poor boy, Frederik, who yearns for a better life for himself and his mother, and discovers how his brief interaction with the little match girl leads him to that better life. Maguire manages to very deftly relate the original story, while intertwining it with his own creation, in the process producing a new little fable of inspiration and hope. Originally written for and read aloud on NPR, this will likely become another Christmas classic.

Last night I finished reading:

THE BIBLE SALESMAN by Clyde Edgerton, 2008.

Edgerton is one of my favorite Southern writers. From the time I read RANEY, I have enjoyed his sense of humor and his writing style. This particular novel concerns a car thief, Preston Clearwater, who picks up a young Bible salesman, Henry Dampier, and makes the innocent faced, somewhat naive kid his partner in crime. Set mainly in the post-World War II South, Edgerton includes plenty of down-home language and customs and foods and plot twists and odd characters (the old lady who throws her voice so that her cats talk is hilarious) to keep the reader interested. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys good Southern storytelling.

THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT by Barbara Vine, 2008.

I finished this last night, a rather odd book that intrigued me enough that I kept reading. The story involves an unmarried British MP named Ivor and his marrried mistress, Hebe, who enjoy sex games. For her birthday, he arranges for her to be kidnapped, bound and gagged and delivered to his home. However, there is a terrible accident, and Hebe and one of the kidnappers are killed, and Ivor fears a political scandal that will break over his head. Over time, there are threatening letters, hints, and incidents that play into his fear, and involve other characters and their agendas. A good psychological tale, with interesting characters and motivations, dark desires, and obsessive behavior. This is a slowly unfolding story that reveals bits that eventually come together to form the whole complex picture. If you're into this type of suspense, this is worth the time. Barbara Vine is aka Ruth Rendell.

THE CORAL THIEF by Rebecca Stott, 2009.

I finished this late last night. Set in Paris in 1815 after Napoleon is being sent away to St. Helena, the story involves a young Englishman named Daniel Connor, who is heading to Paris to study at the Jardin des Plantes. On the way, his letter of introduction and some valuable coral specimens for the famous Dr. Cuvier are stolen by a mysterious woman on the stagecoach. In trying to find his lost possessions, Daniel is drawn into plots to steal other valuables, discovers the beautiful woman is a philosopher-thief with many secrets, and more than once finds himself in the seamy underworld of Paris.

An interesting mix of suspense, history, and philosophy set in a time that is often underused by novelists (postrevolutionary France); although this is the second such I've read recently (The Black Tower being the other one). I found it an intriguing sort of story, with well drawn characters, good historical detail, and a pleasant narrative; probably the least interesting parts were the philosophical musings. However, that wasn't enough to keep me from reading, and overall it was an enjoyable read.

Finished two books recently:

NINTH DAUGHTER: AN ABIGAIL ADAMS MYSTERY by Barbara Hamilton (2009), and ST. SIMONS MEMOIR by Eugenia Price (1978).

Ninth Daughter is the first in a projected series in which Abigail Adams (yes, that Abigail Adams) turns her hand to solving mysteries. In this story, set in Boston in 1773 on the eve of the Boston Tea Party, Abigail literally stumbles over a hideously slashed female body in the kitchen of a friend, Rebecca Malvern, who has disappeared. When the body turns out to be that of a spy, and Abigail's husband, John, is implicated, she uses her prowess and Yankee ingenuity to ferret out the real murderer. In the process, she finds an unlikely ally in British Lieutenant Coldstone, who is assigned to the case. Suspects abound, including members of the Sons of Liberty, neighbors, and British sympathizers, and the author does a credible job of keeping the reader wondering. Plenty of period detail, but the pacing might have been a bit faster. Interesting premise, though, be curious to see what happens next with the series.

St. Simons Memoir is the story of how Eugenia Price discovered St. Simons Island, Georgia, by accident in 1960, moved there, and came to love it as her own. Determined to become a novelist after a career as a nonfiction author, she found St. Simons while on a trip, discovered what became the germ of her first novel, and ended up moving permanently to the island. The book is full of her discoveries there: her acceptance by the people there, the friends she made, and the stories she found, the information she gathered about the people who became the characters in her novels, the historic sites she came to know, all of which became a part of her St. Simons Trilogy of novels. A very interesting memoir of a writer living and working in the place she writes about. It's a very heartfelt tribute to the inspiration Price received from all those who became like a family to her and aided her in so many ways during her career writing historical fiction. The St. Simons novels, particularly New Moon Rising, have been favorites of mine since high school, so I was interested in reading about Price's discovery of this island and her many experiences there.

Watched a good little film the other night called "Forever Strong".

I'm not really a huge fan of sports themed films, but this one had been recommended by a friend as a good inspirational movie for family viewing, and they loaned me their copy. Definitely watchable. The main story concerns a basically selfish,teenage boy who considers himself a superstar player on his coach father's high school rugby team and is heading down a path to nowhere, esp. with alcohol, has a car accident while drinking which nearly kills his girlfriend, and is sentenced to a juvenile detention home until he's 18. As part of his rehab, he's given the chance to play for a rival rugby team, Highland, and in doing so, he becomes part of a real team, learning their values, etc., and manages to turn his life around. Yes, it sounds sappy and silly and overly dramatic, but it's better than that. The characters are well drawn, some mystery exists between the two coaches of the rival teams (the boy's dad and the Highland coach), the feelings of being torn between right and wrong, a parent's anguish at being separated from your child, death, redemption, etc. Never quite realized how violent a game rugby is, and how fanatical fans are about the game. No huge names in this movie--Gary Cole, Neal McDonough, Sean Faris; I guess Sean Astin could be considered a big name actor since his "Lord of the Rings" fame, but his role in this, while pivotal, does not give him large amounts of screen time. I found this a worthwhile flick.

Finished last night:

BLINDSPOT by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore, 2008.
Written by two historians, this novel is set in Boston in 1764, a time when the British are beginning to irritate the Colonials with various taxes to pay for their wars with the French. An undercurrent of rebellion exists, much talk of liberty and equality. The two main characters are Fanny Easton, a young woman of quality who has fled the home of her abusive father, and a recently arrived portrait painter, Stewart Jameson, who has fled London and is one step ahead of his creditors. Fanny has disguised herself as a boy and gets herself hired by Jameson as an apprentice under the name of Francis Weston; meanwhile, Stewart is trying to drum up business to pay off his creditors and needs Francis to help. Stewart, older, attractive, and attracted to both sexes, finds himself becoming attracted to his serving boy (and fighting it); they both become involved in the case of a prominent man being poisoned; Fanny is concerned about her young half sister (a slave); plus she is having her own feelings for her master; then the arrival of Stewart's old friend and lover Dr. Ignatius Alexander, a well educated, cultured free black, adds extra spice to the plot. Great detail and feel for the period, but at times the story drags from too much information. Could have used some more editing, I think; a good story overall, but at times it was slow going.

Finished last night:

DEXTER BY DESIGN by Jeff Lindsay, 2009.
This is the fourth of Lindsay's thrillers about Dexter Morgan, the blood spatter analyst who is also a serial killer who hunts down & kills other serial killers. This story involves Dexter in a case of already-dead bodies being mutilated and displayed around Miami in alarming ways; Dexter's cop sister Deborah is stabbed during the investigation; Dexter murders the guy he believes is responsible for the stabbing but is mistaken. Dexter and his family are targeted by the dead man's lover; meanwhile, his sister Deborah has time to mull over certain information about Dexter; and Dexter realizes how close he is to having his true identity revealed by several sources. An interesting plot, snappy dialogue, and good interaction between Dexter and his sister and his wife Rita; however the ending is a little too neat for me. A good read, though, and I still think Dexter is a funny, likable guy.

Finally watched the flick "Jane Austen Book Club" this past weekend. I've never read the book and I had kind of avoided the movie, but it was recommended by a work colleague whose wife is a confirmed Janeite as worth watching, so I checked it out and brought it home. A decent storyline, interesting characters, good players. Intrigued me that 5 women and 1 man would form a book club to discuss only the 6 books that Jane Austen wrote, and that each book related to their personal lives in some way. All of them had personal issues, and reading and discussing Austen's novels as a group became a form of therapy for them. Kathy Baker was entertaining as the mothering figure, and Amy Brenneman and Maria Bello were good as best friends; but Hugh Dancy was definitely a winsome soul--he's invited to join by Bello as a distraction for Brenneman, but he's really interested in Bello. He's never read Austen but is willing to, and his insights and comments are thoughtful, which surprises the women. His attempts to connect with Bello are very heartfelt and sincere, and indeed are helped along by Austen's works (and his sister, Nancy Travis). The characters that Emily Blunt and Maggie Grace played were less interesting to me, but still watchable. Cool that the group wins others over as Austen fans, too. A good way to spend some time, and you don't have to have read Jane Austen to appreciate the story.

Finished on 9/8/09:

EVIL AT HEART by Chelsea Cain, 2009.

I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, it just flew. This suspense/thriller/chiller has detective Archie Sheridan in the hospital, serial killer Gretchen Lowell on the loose, and dead bodies and body parts everywhere, not Gretchen's handiwork, but possibly a copycat or worse, a Gretchen Lowell cult. All the regulars are here, including Archie's colleague/friend Henry Sobol, and Susan Ward the reporter/journalist. There's plenty of gore, blood, and bizarre situations to give you the creeps, and the finale that involves Archie, Gretchen, and Susan is plenty exciting, plus the stage is set for the next book. A quick, fast paced read, but not quite as satisfying a read as the previous books.

I just finished reading:

DEVIL'S BROOD by Sharon Kay Penman, 2008.
A dense, but wonderfully researched and written entry in a series of novels based on the lives of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. I had read the two previous books, When Christ and His Saints Slept and Time and Chance, and this book was years in the making. It was worth the wait, IMHO. Penman has a knack with bring the era to life, with description (be it beseiging a castle, fighting a battle, or the foods at a banquet), characterization (even of minor personalities), witty dialogue that can make you chuckle, etc. The whole time I was reading scenes between Henry and Eleanor I kept being reminded of the wonderful film, LION IN WINTER, and how great Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn were in those roles. Anyway, I would highly recommend this to any who are interested in these larger than life people and the time period (late 1100's) in general. This novel ends in 1189, and Penman claims she will continue the story with Richard, John, Constance and others from this novel.

Finished reading on 8/12/09:

THE DEVIL'S QUEEN by Jeanne Kalogridis, 2009.

Catherine de Medici's story is told from her childhood in Florence, Italy, to the aftermath of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day in Paris in 1572. The author expertly emphasises the effects of the violence and political unrest in Italy during Catherine's formative years, her belief in prophecies and the occult, and her strained family relations, and how these affect her decision making as a woman and as Queen of France. Her relationships/issues with such notables as Diane de Poitiers (her kinswoman and mistress of Catherine's husband), her bizarre astrologer Cosimo Ruggieri, the famed Nostradamus, the decadent, likeable King Francois I, and other characters are interesting and effectively done. Catherine, long maligned as evil personified, is believably portrayed here as an intelligent but superstitious and tormented woman who took desperate measures through great love for her husband, King Henri II, and for her children and in the hope of averting gruesome disasters. Kalogridis does a great job with creating atmosphere and showing the dark side of Catherine's life; she gives depth and balance to the characters of Margot, Henri of Navarre, Coligny (the Protestant leader), and the emotionally torn Jeanne of Navarre. Plenty of drama, royal intrigue, murder, sex, religious conflict, and violence flow through the novel as easily as the horrible visions of blood Catherine dreams of each night. Lots of period detail, a well paced narrative, and compelling story make this a worthwhile read.

Finished this today, 8/4/09:

ROYAL HARLOT by Susan Holloway Scott, 2007.
If you're into the Restoration period of English history, then this novel about Barbara Villiers and Charles II is a worthwhile read. Full of historical details, personalities of the age, and great events like the Great Plague and Great Fire of London, Scott knows how to hold a reader's interest. Smoothly written and moves at a good pace. Barbara, the main mistress of King Charles Stuart for a number of years, is the main focus of the story, from just before the Restoration until 1672, when the king makes his final break with her and she leaves for France. Scott manages to make a somewhat sympathetic character of a woman normally seen as vulgar, promiscuous, verbally abusive, arrogant, hugely ambitious and grasping. She was all those things, but much more.

I stayed up late last night to finish

SWEETHEART by Chelsea Cain, 2008.

The pages just flew by in this thriller, which is a follow up to Heartsick. I just could not read it fast enough, I was so totally enthralled and wanted to find out the ending. And of course, Cain leaves it open for the next book, which is due out this fall. Storyline concerns Portland, Oregon, detective Archie Sheridan, who is obsessed with the creepiest serial killer ever, Gretchen Lowell, who was caught and imprisoned for life (in the previous book). In return for revealing info on the locations of her murdered victims (some 200 people), she is imprisoned & Archie visits her monthly. Now Archie is trying to put his life together, has sworn off visiting her, and move on. A woman's dead body found in a park gets him involved in another murder case, which ends up being tied to Gretchen, plus reporter Susan Ward, anxious to get notoriety for her crime reporting. Things heat up again when Gretchen manages to escape and threatens the safety of everyone he cares for. Top-notch entertainment, a real thrill ride that keeps moving. I don't read a lot of this type novel, but occasionally they just hit the spot. Cain keeps the plot moving at a pace and delivers the goods so you're not disappointed. If you're into crime thrillers, this is an excellent choice.

Finished on 7/14/09:

THE BLACK TOWER by Louis Bayard, 2008.
An excellent historical mystery concerning the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who was incarcerated in the Black Tower, and after his parents' deaths, allegedly died there a short time later. This story, set in 1818, involves Vidocq, the chief of the Parisian plainclothes police force, who is on the trail to find out if this prince has somehow survived death. A murdered man has been found with a paper on him containing the name of Hector Carpentier, and that's where Vidocq's search begins. This Hector is the son of another Hector Carpentier, who was the prince's sympathetic physician in the tower. These two characters become involved in a dangerous and tangled quest to find out the truth of what actually happened to the prince: is he dead or alive? Where is he? Who is he? And who is behind the series of attacks and murders against those who are out to either discover or conceal the truth of the matter? Great details of Restoration France, intriguing historical premise, fast paced narrative, and colorful characters (Vidocq is definitely interesting), make this a good read.

My wife and I watched a little indie film last night called "Junebug". It was a quirky, odd, entirely character driven movie set in North Carolina. Amy Adams, Alessandro Nivola, and Celia Weston starred; Adams made this before she became famous ala Disney's hugely popular and successful "Enchanted". This movie involved the homecoming of a young married couple to NC from Chicago; the wife (Embeth Davidz) is chasing down a NC folk artist she wants to represent and is meeting her in-laws for the first time. Amy Adams, as the very pregnant, cute, and somewhat childish Ashley is the only family member to welcome her openly, and she nearly steals every scene she's in. There's lots of family issues like love, jealousy, anger, fear, loss, etc., and the idea of one son being the "golden boy"(Nivola, in this case). The new wife struggles to understand his family and their ways and tries to fit in, and all the while trying to sign the artist she's after; the husband seems to quickly revert to the old environment. There are no easy or pat answers to some of the issues and not everything gets resolved. It is well written and realistic, with interesting camera work, and very well cast. Shot in and around Winston-Salem, NC, which adds to the realistic feel. Worth a look and discussing afterward, as we did.

Finished on 7/8/08:

BOUND by Sally Gunning, 2008.
A thoroughly entertaining and researched novel concerning a girl named Alice Cole, who at 7 years old, arrived in Boston with her father in 1756, after losing her mother and brothers to death while at sea. Her father sells her as an indentured servant to work for Mr. Morton for 7 years, then disappears from her life forever. Morton treats her well, raises her with his own daughter, Abigail. But when Nabby marries Emery Verley, Alice goes with them as a gift, is sexually abused and humiliated by Verley and mistreated by Nabby, and finally runs off, stowing away on a ship in Boston harbor. She ends up in Satucket on Cape Cod, taken in by Widow Berry and Mr. Freeman. The novel explores Alice's further trials and tribulations, including the consequences of running away, an unwanted pregnancy, attraction to the widow's grandson, alleged murder, and the unsettled political climate of the times. Great detail, interesting, informative narrative, an intriguing heroine, and about a topic that is probably often overlooked: indentured slavery. Recommended.

Finished reading 7/3/09:

CITY OF THE SUN by David Levien, 2008.

Swiftly moving thriller about the taking of an 12 year old boy, Jamie Gabriel, while on his paper route one morning. To the police and his parents, he has vanished without a trace. The father, Paul, hires Frank Behr, a p.i. with police connections to track him down and find out what happened to him, as the parents want some kind of closure. Behr, working with the slimmest of clues, begins the hunt. Paul wants to be more involved in the investigation, and Behr and Paul form a kind of uneasy bond and work together to solve the case. The whole investigation leads them down paths no one wants to follow.

The unsavoriness/seaminess of the subject matter could be a stumbling block: it is repellent, but at the same time intriguing and makes for a thrilling story. Definitely a page-turner.

Finished on 6/22/09:

CASSANDRA & JANE by Jill Pitkeathley, 2008.

This novel tells the story of Jane Austen's life from the POV of her elder sister Cassandra. Lifelong companions, as well as sisters, Cass probably knew Jane better than any other sibling or contemporary. Author manages to convey a sense of Jane's times through her use of language, writing style, and period detail, but doesn't bog down the story. Shows the trials and tribulations of being an unmarried, well educated, middle class sort of female during the English Regency, as well as Jane's struggles to write and have her novels published, and how Jane handled the fame and adoration that came with the notoriety of being a published author. Pitkeathley also touches on the two sisters' love affairs (including the Tom Lefroy episode) and their sometimes prickly relationships with their parents and siblings. A good read based on solid facts.

Finished reading on 6/12/09:

SPELLBOUND BY BEAUTY by Donald Spoto, 2008.
Alfred Hitchcock, a great director, was not very nice to many of the actresses who worked for him, particularly Tippi Hedren and Diane Baker. A worthwhile look at a famous director who had some serious issues in his relationships, especially with women.

Finished on 6/7/09:

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen, 2006.
Excellent story about life in the circus during the Great Depression, narrated by Jacob appearing both as an old man and a young man in flashbacks. The story has thought provoking themes involving loyalty, friendship, love and loss, treatment of circus animals, ageing, etc. Jacob, a veterinary student running away from his personal tragedy, joins the circus train and falls in love with Marlena, who is married to August (who is mad as a hatter). All kinds of adventures ensue, involving circus animals, dwarves, fat ladies and other freaks, and assorted workers and performers. Gruen has done huge amounts of research, but overall it's the storytelling that moves this story along a fast clip. Her opening describing the circus stampede and murder quickly draws the reader in. And her depiction of Rosie the elephant and her antics is most memorable. Great book for discussion.

This evening we finished watching the BBC/A & E version of Charles Dickens' "Bleak House", which came out in 2005. Had actually watched it before when shown on TV, but decided to watch again on DVD. Excellent production, put together in 15 segments, the first was one hour, and the rest were each a half hour. One thing we realized, though, was that the DVD trimmed at least one scene that we had seen in the TV broadcast, so that wasn't good. Very much a Dickens story, with good and bad characters, tangled plotlines that involve everyone, with lies and secrets and murder, love and death, illegitimacy, greed, and dark humor. The whole court muddle concerning Jarndyce and Jarndyce case was so interesting in itself. Well cast, with Gillian Anderson playing Lady Dedlock, Anna Maxwell Martin, Patrick Kennedy, Denis Lawson, Charles Dance (great villainous lawyer), and Carey Mulligan playing the principals. And Pauline Collins was wonderful as Miss Flite. Very enjoyable production, and worth watching again.

Finished 5/31/09:

LAVINIA by Ursula K. Le Guin, 2008.
Historical novel about the Latium princess Lavinia who was written about by Vergil in the Aeneid. She married the Trojan invader Aeneas and founded what became the Roman Empire. Well researched and written, although at times I felt it a bit slow. Author does a good job in her descriptions of what life was like in Italy then, its primitiveness, customs, daily life, culture, geography, and different tribes living in close proximity.

Finished 5/24/09:

THE SERPENT'S TALE by Ariana Franklin, 2008.

Second in the series of novels about Vesuvia Adelia Aguilar, the mistress of the art of death, this time concerning the poisoning of Rosamund Clifford, mistress of Henry II. Adelia is drawn into the mystery by her lover Bishop Rowley, and it falls to her to discover the culprit. Was it Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry's queen, or someone she hired to do the deed? Or someone else? Snowstorms, assorted odd characters all trapped and isolated inside Godstow Abbey, more murders, spies, and intrigue, make for a bizarre and thrilling story.

Finished on 5/11/09:

SHADOW VALLEY by Steven Barnes, 2009.
Novel set in prehistoric Africa, follows tribal wanderings of the Ibandi, led by heroine T'Cori, the Great Sky Woman. It is up to her to lead her peaceful people away from their enemies and into a land of peace and plenty near Mt. Kilimanjaro. Interesting, plenty of violence and action, details of tribal life in Africa 30,000 years ago. A good read, something different for me in terms of time period and locale.

Finished reading on 4/22/09:

MICHAL, by Jill Eileen Smith, 2009.

I read this in order to write a review for the Historical Novel Society, but I wanted to read it anyway, as I enjoy historical fiction concerning King David and his wives. Have read quite a bit of it by this point in my life, and found this to be an enjoyable story. The author did a good job in her portrayal of Michal and David especially--it showed the struggles Michal faced in being loyal to her family, to David, to her faith in God, and to herself. Even though she at times turned away from God, and against David, she redeemed herself and made peace with her inner turmoils, and her faith in God grew stronger for her troubles. David is shown as being charismatic, courageous, caring, and heroic, as he slays Goliath, keeps himself out of Saul's clutches, and remains a friend to Jonathan. This isn't a preachy book, but a gentle one. Good, accurate historical details, good characterization, fleshes out the Biblical passages from Samuel without straying from the traditional stories.

Finished on 4/10/09:

THE RIVER WIFE by Jonis Agee, 2007.

An unusual historical novel set in Missouri, along the Mississippi River. Jacques Ducharme, who rescued Annie Lark during the New Madrid earthquake of 1811, married her, and then founded the family, was a fur trapper and river pirate. His influence lasts well into the next century, as Hedie Rails, married to Jacques' descendant, Clement Ducharme, discovers in Annie's family journals. Misunderstandings, family secrets, infidelity, betrayal, horrific violence, paranormal experiences, and seduction play out the drama. Lots of period detail concerning life on the Mississippi, pirating, farming, horse breeding, etc. Worthwhile, if a little on the peculiar side.

So I've now watched all of the first season's episodes of "The Tudors" on DVD, and while I found many errors and inaccuracies in the whole thing, I was still entertained by it and felt compelled to keep watching. I don't know why, as I was so frustrated over many things. SPOILERS HERE
It didn't seem as though much time passed in the story, although historically YEARS went by during the King's Great Matter. The make-up people didn't have Henry VIII age much, nor Anne Boleyn, nor many of the other characters, except poor Katharine of Aragon. The whole deal with combining Henry's sisters Mary and Margaret into one character, Princess Margaret, having her marry the old King of Portugal, then murder him (by smothering him with a pillow!), marrying Brandon, and then having her die several episodes later with consumption (throwing up huge gouts of blood, no less) was insulting and preposterous. Wolsey's committing suicide by cutting his own throat was outrageous and awful. Some characters had no point to the story--Thomas Tallis anyone? The power-hungry Duke of Norfolk seems to be less powerful here than usually portrayed and Thomas Boleyn much more of a dynamic aggressor. Henry Fitzroy did not die as a mere child of plague; Bessie Blount was not married when she was Henry's mistress, nor was she LADY Blount--she got a husband as a gift from Henry after he was finished with her and she was a commoner when Henry's mistress; Charles Brandon's ward was Catherine Willoughby--not Brooke--so many unnecessary changes and inaccurate things and general silliness. And those who don't know any better will believe it all.

That being said, I found it kept my attention, it was compelling drama, well staged, pleasant sets and costumes (although some of the women's headdresses were questionable), and some of the performances were very watchable. Sam Neill is very good as Wolsey; Jeremy Northam an interesting Sir Thomas More; Maria Doyle Kennedy is excellent as Katharine; Henry Cavill a boisterous and thrilling Brandon; and Jonathan Rhys Meyers gives a fine portrayal of a young, athletic, sexually charged Henry VIII. This whole series is definitely meant to appeal to a younger, edgier sort of audience. But couldn't it all have been done more accurately and still been just as dramatic and exciting? These people led such interesting and drama filled lives as it was, why does TV need to create/change/disregard history?

Finished reading on 3/30/09:

THE KILLER'S WIFE by Bill Floyd, 2008.

I stayed up past midnight to finish this page-turner about a woman who is married to a serial killer for some years without knowing it. When she discovers the truth, she turns him in, sees him tried & sent to Death Row, then takes their young son and moves to the other side of the country, changes their names and starts over. Flash forward: a victim's father tracks them down, the nightmare starts again, including a copycat killer. Fast moving, quick read set in Research Triangle area of North Carolina. Poses the question "how well do you really know the person sleeping beside you?" A good change of pace book for me to read in between things I enjoy more.

I don't know exactly why I enjoy watching "Remains of the Day" so much that I have watched it multiple times. Is it that it strikes a chord in me, or makes me nostalgic for something that I never knew, or maybe it's just the beauty of the film... I watched it the other night for the first time in several years, and it made me realize once again what a touching movie it is. I have read the novel, as well, but I think this is a case in which the movie is almost better than the book. The pairing of Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, as Mr. Stevens and Miss Kenton, is exceptional, their characters are beautifully portrayed. Even with no dialogue between them, so much is conveyed by their looks and actions. Hopkins is the epitome of what a perfect English butler should be, in thought, word, and deed, even though the world is changing around him, and Thompson's professional and spirited housekeeper is struggling to control her longings for an emotional relationship with Mr. Stevens. That last scene between their characters when they meet 20 years later after so much has happened in between times, is just totally heart-wrenching to me every time I watch. Guess I'm just a sucker for lost romance! The whole feel of the film is so right--the scenes of the Oxfordshire countryside between the wars, the nobility of Darlington Hall, the beauty of the mounted foxhunters riding across the grounds, the automobiles of the 1930's, the huge dinner parties, all those period details make it such a wonderful experience. I enjoyed Hopkins & Thompson together in this one much more than in "Howard's End"--seemed a better fit for them somehow. It's also interesting to see Hugh Grant and Christopher Reeve in rather interesting supporting roles. All in all, it's a film I have enjoyed revisiting over the years.

Finished reading on 3/25/09:

THE SISTER by Paola Kaufmann, 2007.

I must not have been in the right mood for this novel. It was written by an Argentinian, and is the story of poet Emily Dickinson and her family as told by her only sister, Lavinia. It just did not read well for me. It was rather slow and plodding, although there were interesting tidbits about their lives in Amherst, their brother Austin, the broken love affairs, scandal over Mabel Loomis Todd, Lavinia's struggle to publish Emily's poems after Emily's death, etc. It had its moments, but overall it was not very compelling. Perhaps it was just too literary, or maybe it was the translation, but it was not as enjoyable as I felt it should be.

I watched "Dead of Winter" recently, a 1980's thriller that stars Mary Steenburgen and Roddy McDowall. Had seen it way back, and remembered it as an enjoyable flick, but couldn't remember a lot of the details. Well, I enjoyed it all over. Steenburgen actually plays 3 roles in this, and McDowall is one of the villains. Good suspense, woman in peril, woman as villain, eerie house in the country replete with secret passages and dead bodies, and snow storm kind of movie. It was worth another look. Some good scares and jumps in this one, and the gore factor was almost zero--violence, yes, but no gore. Yes, there are some holes in the plot, but I didn't care. Very watchable, edge of your seat thriller.

Finished on 3/16/09:

ROANOKE: SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST COLONY by Lee Miller, 2000. Had wanted to read this for some time, and after recently reading the novel Roanoke by Margaret Lawrence, I decided it was time. It was worthwhile, although parts of it were rather dry, and I don't believe it really solved the mystery. Miller provides clues and facts to support what is a plausible theory as to what happened to the colonists, but it certainly is not conclusive. Margaret Lawrence used this book as a resource to write her novel, and it shows. An interesting and provocative look at a mystery that continues to fascinate.

Watched "Madame X" last night. It's one of those 1960's glossy melodramas with Lana Turner playing a woman married to an up and coming politician from a prominent family who is forced to give up her husband and son over a scandal, fakes her death, and leaves town. Twenty years later, in a twist, she goes on trial for murder and is defended by her own son. Melodramatic and full of plot holes, it's definitely Turner's movie, and she's great in it. John Forsythe is fine as the husband (he has the best voice ever) and Constance Bennett (in her last movie) is appropriately malevolent as the nasty mother-in-law who forces Turner out. Ricardo Montalban plays the unfortunate playboy, and Burgess Meredith is extremely villainous as the man Turner shoots and kills in order to stop his blackmail. An interesting picture to watch, lovely to look at, and actually not a bad story.

Finished reading on 3/12/09:

MISTRESS OF THE MONARCHY: THE LIFE OF KATHERINE SWYNFORD, DUCHESS OF LANCASTER, by Alison Weir, 2009.

A good readable biography about Katherine Swynford, the woman who became the mistress of John of Gaunt (son of Edward III), bore him 4 children, married him as his third wife, and became an ancestress of all British monarchs beginning with the Tudors. Most of what I'd known about her before was from the novel Katherine, by Anya Seton. Good details of life in 14th century England; but facts about her seem so skimpy that there's lots of perhaps and probably and maybe used, which bugged me after a while. Good illustrations, family charts have some typos, notes, etc.

Finished reading on 3/2/09:

ROANOKE: A NOVEL OF ELIZABETHAN INTRIGUE by Margaret Lawrence, 2009.

Lawrence has created a very plausible and interesting story around Sir Walter Ralegh's Roanoke Island expeditions and the "Lost Colony". Involving two spies (or spiders), Gabriel North and Robert Mowbray, she weaves a tale of intrigue, assassination plots against the Queen, treacherous characters, romance, savagery, and great spirit. Well drawn characters, including Queen Elizabeth herself, Robert Cecil, Walter Ralegh, Lord Burleigh, the fictional Indian queen Naia, and others, both real and imagined, who went out to Roanoke and disappeared. A good read, historically accurate in details, and thought provoking concerning the fate of the lost colonists.

Finished reading on 2/25/09:

EVE: A NOVEL OF THE FIRST WOMAN, by Elissa Elliott, 2009.

An interesting take on the Genesis story of Adam and Eve. Using the story we all know from the Bible, the author has fleshed out the traditional story, providing information from historical sources, plus creating fictional events and characters. Plenty of fascinating details of the Garden of Eden; the interesting depiction of the serpent; the stories of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve; questions of faith and loyalty and love of each other and of God (here called Elohim), etc., made for an enjoyable read. It was satisfying, although I found it a little long in places.

Finished on 2/16/09:

THE SLIDE by Kyle Beachy, 2009.
I needed a novel set in contemporary times, read a review of this one, and decided to try it. The main character, Potter Mays, is in his twenties, graduates college and runs to the safety of home in St. Louis, and is trying to figure out his life. I don't know what I was expecting of this book, but I just could not enjoy it. I couldn't relate to any character, too much whining, the plotlines didn't appeal to me, it just seemed shallow and self-centered. I did finish it, but must admit to skimming the last 50 pages, which I never do that. I can't really recommend this to anyone I know.

Finished 2/7/09:

MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH by Ariana Franklin, 2007.

Great historical fiction thriller. Concerns child murders in Cambridge, England, during the reign of Henry II; Jewish population in town is blamed, revenues to kingdom disrupted. It is King Henry who sends for a "master of the art of death" to come from Sicily to investigate. The master is actually a "mistress", Adelia Ortese Aguilar, a woman doctor who "reads" the dead; she, along with Crusader Sir Rowley Picot, Simon of Naples, and Mansur the Saracen, solve the hideous crimes and unmask the killer. Excellent period detail, well done characters, suspenseful, thrilling story. It was a real page turner for me.

Finished reading on 2/2/09:

THE SACRIFICE by Kathleen Benner Duble, 2005.
Written for a young adult audience and based on stories about the author's family, the story concerns two young girls (10 and 12) who are accused of witchcraft during the time of the Salem trials in 1692. Abigail and Dorothy Faulkner of Andover are accused of tormenting a former maidservant at the height of the hysteria and put into Salem prison. An aunt is already there, along with many others. The girls' pregnant mother, desperate to free them, pressures them to name her as their instructor, knowing that she would be arrested, tried, and condemned but not executed until after the birth of the baby, but her daughters would go free. The author does a good job of portraying the general hysteria, the prison conditions and the terrible choice the girls face. An interesting, fast read about a time in colonial America when the general population believed strongly in witches and magic existing in their communities.

Finished reading 1/29/09:

VIRGINIA HORSE RACING: TRIUMPHS OF THE TURF by Virginia C. Johnson, 2008.

Brief history of the sport of horse racing in Virginia from the founding of Jamestown to the present. Provides details of the foundation sires, noted racehorses, studs, and well known men (like John Randolph of Roanoke) who were huge in the sport. A good, short intro to the subject.

Finished reading on 1/25/09

PRINCE RUPERT: THE LAST CAVALIER by Charles Spencer, 2008.

Excellent biography of a Stuart era figure that is mostly forgotten now, but in his day was considered a superhero of the English Civil War. Grandson of James I, a son of Frederick V, the Elector Palatine, and Elizabeth Stuart, known as the "Winter King and Queen" of Bohemia, Rupert of the Rhine was gallant, courageous, forthright, and the epitome of manliness. Provides interesting details about his childhood, his participation in the war, his life after the war, including his voyages across the seas, family life, etc. Good serviceable bio, well worth the effort and time to read.

After about 25 years, I finally had the chance to watch Disney's "Song of the South" again. My children had never seen it before--only the "Zippadee Doo Dah" song on a sing-along tape--so I was glad for them to watch. I know that nowadays it is considered a very politically incorrect movie & that's why it isn't sold here, but the film was made in a different era and about a period in history that no longer exists, and putting aside the racial stuff, it is good storytelling and keeps alive those interesting Uncle Remus stories of Joel Chandler Harris. Harris painstakingly wrote them in the actual dialect, specifically to preserve that type of speech along with the stories themselves. Seeing this movie as a kid, it was one of my very favorite Disney movies. Having seen it as an adult more than once, it is no longer necessarily my favorite, but I still am fascinated and entranced by it. I enjoy the live action storyline of the kids and Uncle Remus and the adults (who don't quite understand), and the cartoon segments involving Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox are very colorful and fun. James Baskett is very believable as the storytelling Uncle Remus; the two kids, Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten, are cute; Hattie McDaniel plays Sis Tempy as only she could; and it was wonderful to see the young Ruth Warrick in the role of the boy's mother. Yes, the racial stereotypes are there, but every era has its own stereotypes and that is not a good enough reason for me to ban an entire film, sorry. I am glad I was able to finally view this again and for my children to have the opportunity as well.

Finished reading:

ON/OFF by Colleen McCullough, 2006.
Not the usual sort of book for McCullough, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It's a suspense thriller set in Connecticut in 1965-66, concerns a serial killer. After body parts are found in a freezer of a noted research lab in Holloman, CT, Det. Carmine Delmonico, is assigned to solve these heinous multiple murders. Victims are all young 16 yr old girls who resemble each other and in how they are reared. Gruesome, terrible murders. Lots of suspects, and Delmonico becomes involved with Desdemona Dupre, who works at the institute. Plenty of suspense, red herrings, killings, family secrets, etc. I never guessed who the criminal was, and the twist at the end was a shocker to me.

Finished reading:

THE JEWEL TRADER OF PEGU by Jeffrey Hantover, 2008.
An interesting, well written story set in the Southeastern Asian kingdom of Pegu, 1598-99. The main character, Abraham, a Jewish jewel trader from Venice, arrives for a year long stay to trade in precious stones for his uncle's business. It chronicles his thoughts through a series of letters home about this very different culture, beautiful and lush, but with an undercurrent of brutal, swift violence, religion, and traditions that he doesn't understand. Through his native broker, Win, he discovers that because of his exalted position, he is expected to deflower young brides; the whole idea of this creates tensions and problems with his European values and his strong faith; under pressure, he submits to the local tradition. But after a tragedy befalls one bride, Mya, his life changes in a major way that he would never have expected, with far-reaching consequences. An excellent book for a discussion of multicultural values, Europeans in other cultures, and faith.

For some unknown reason, after I finished all my chores yesterday, I put on my DVD of "North and South", the TV mini based on John Jakes' novel. I don't know if I just wanted to hear the beautiful theme music, see the actors, relive the lovely Charleston, SC scenery--been there several times, actually walked the grounds of the plantation that served as Mont Royal--not sure what it was. But as soon as the theme began and the opening credits started rolling, I was transported. It is such a dramatic and moving story about the bond of friendship between two men through major trials and tribulations, including war (in this instance, the Civil War), and how true friendship and loyalty can transcend such situations. I got hooked again, watched the first two episodes, and want to continue through each series again. The trilogy of books by John Jakes were stories I could thoroughly lose myself in, not great literature, but vastly entertaining. The writers of this first series, at least, kept most of the original story (that of Orry and George) intact; other changes were made that I don't agree with that affected the two series that follow, but that's always the case with books made into film. I still find this mini excellently done and well worth the time to watch and re-watch.

Over the past few nights, we have watched Richard Lester's 1970's Musketeer movies. Hadn't seen any of them in ages, and other than myself, no one had seen "The Return of the Musketeers"(1989). That one was no great loss. The stars must have been in need of a paycheck to agree to it; very disappointing, especially in that George Macdonald Fraser, who wrote the scripts for the first two movies, also scripted this one. It was not worth the time we spent watching it. Taking place 20 years later, the main part of the story had Kim Cattrall playing a villainess who was the love child of Milady de Winter and Rochefort out for revenge on all the principals surviving the previous two pictures. It's also sad to note that Roy Kinnear (d'Artagnan's bumbling servant) died in an accident while making this film. None of my family was terribly impressed with this picture; mainly it satisfied their curiosity.

However, the two films previous, "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" are two of my all-time favorites. Love the story, the script, the cast, the direction, the humor, the drama and the action. Michael York, Richard Chamberlain, Oliver Reed, and Frank Finlay are so much fun as the musketeers, Faye Dunaway and Raquel Welch are excellent (love the fight over the Queen's diamonds), and Charlton Heston is pure menace as Richelieu. The whole cast is great to watch, with much physical comedy, witty repartee, slapstick humor, making for a swashbuckling good time. I've seen the older versions and the newer (Disney) version, and they just can't measure up to Lester's versions. Worth watching again and again and again, as they are always entertaining.